The percent of American workers belonging to a
union has been in decline since the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947.
The fall in union membership has contributed to increasing wage inequality and a
decline in civic engagement.

On Wednesday a group of housekeepers with the
UNITE HERE union visited the NETWORK office. We listened to their stories
of exploitative working conditions at various hotels around the country. Several
of the women discussed the long hours working at backbreaking speeds for no
overtime pay; high stress conditions; the lack of appropriate work tools for
housekeepers which has led to chronic pain; and an unsafe environment.